Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Baton Rouge leads 12 of 23 categories
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,155
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
225,500 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$55,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
More college-educated — 36.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 40°F
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Yakima
Homes cost $26k less ($217,700 vs $243,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1027.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5852.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Yakima by $5,579/yr
Yakima, WA
Pros
47% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (8.1%)
Households earn $5,579 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Baton Rouge
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$26k less
$217,700 vs $243,300
Yakima
Median Income
$5,579
$55,734 vs $50,155/yr
Yakima
Violent Crime
47% lower
544.3 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Yakima
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
8.1% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 101.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $243,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,014 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $55,734 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 8.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 53.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Baton Rouge leads 12 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 12 and Yakima wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Baton Rouge to Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $243,300 median home), income ($50,155 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Yakima, WA are about 1,924 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.